A Taste of the Peak District

Accommodation, activities and attractions of the Peak District of the UK

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One of the Peak District’s key dales, Lathkill Dale has relics of mining, a nature reserve and fly fishing.

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Flowing through a deep and spectacular valley, the Lathkill is one of the Peak District’s key trout fishing rivers. In common with many limestone areas, in its upper reaches, the river is not permanent. In times of high rainfall, the Lathkill tumbles out from a large but shallow cave in the upper reaches of the dale, at other times, you can see it seeping out of the river bed further down the valley near Cales Dale. Once established, the river flows steadily, over weirs and forming large ponds where large trout are caught. It passes under the medieval Conksbury Bridge and on to Alport and its confluence with the Bradford. Together the two rivers join the Wye near Haddon Hall.

The top end of Lathkill Dale is a nature reserve and can be accessed via several paths. One of the common ways is to walk from Monyash. In the Spring, there are early purple orchids abound whilst in the mid-summer months the rare plant ‘Jacobs Ladder’ comes into flower.

Closer to Over Haddon lie the remains of the Mandale lead mine. You can see the pillars and the line of the aqueduct as well as the ruins of the engine house and sealed off abandoned shafts (access is available to cavers click here for information). Click on the images above for larger versions and more views of the mine.